It is evident, if another Presidential canvass passes over, that some
grand issue must come up to give the people inspiration, and which will
be of such character as to _divide_ them, not such as would _unite_ them
unanimously; for to this last condition, it is to be feared, we have not
yet arrived _though there may be such things arise as will command as
much unanimity_ as Washington commanded; but this could not be, _except
revolution_ occurs and it becomes the result of it.
With a young intelligence such as we represent, no old issues can be
made to divide parties. Upon such questions as have heretofore been made
the distinguishing features of political parties, there should be no
misunderstanding. That there is, demonstrates that the principles of
government have not been taught to the people. It teaches that party
leaders have built up theories which lack the support of science and
principle; and in this way all those issues upon which the permanent
vitality of the country depends have been put before the people, colored
and trimmed to suit their prejudices and to shape parties into
opposition. Were all of these issues taught to the people as the
legitimate deduction of the science of government, and entirely bereft
of partisanship, they would all work together for the obtaining of more,
greater and better conditions and privileges. To bring about this course
for the people is the object of the science of society which is just
beginning to be recognized.
There are but three principles by which all questions should be tested:
Freedom, Equality and Justice; and when legislation shall be brought to
the test of these, and entirely abstracted from partisanship, there will
not be very much further legislation to be performed. All questions now
undecided, which still remain before the people, such as those of
finance, commerce, revenue, internal improvements, and international
policy, should have the touchstone of these principles applied, and they
should be decided thereby. It should be asked of them, What course do
you point out which will be consistent with freedom, which shall not
interfere with equality, and which shall be just to everybody? We
venture to assert that, tried by these tests, not a single line of
policy which is now being pursued by the Government will stand. Surely
its financial policy cannot; for what is there in it which is consistent
with the constitutional question of freedom? Surely its revenue, its
tariff system, cannot, for what is there in either which is not in
direct antagonism with equality?—while we may look in vain for even the
skeleton of justice wherever money can find its way.
All this is true, and very much more, and it comes of the departure of
legislation and administration from the fundamental propositions of the
Constitution. It is also true that such conditions cannot last. The
people, as a whole, are not entirely unregenerate, though so many of
their self-appointed leaders are. It only remains for the people to
become fully aroused to the depths of corruption to which legislation
and administration have been carried to demand and obtain the needed
redress. This corruption is not confined to Government, but it has
permeated nearly all corporate organizations, many of which are
organized specially to defraud the productive classes of their
hard-earned wealth. The possibility of this being done is because our
system of finance is entirely wrong, and nothing will save the country
from general financial and commercial ruin except complete revolution in
this system. If the ruin comes it will ultimately fall upon the
producing classes. In other words, the producing interests of the
country cannot sustain the inflation of prices which has been brought
about by speculation, in alliance with fraud, which are the ruling
spirits of the day.
It may be said that such radical changes as will depose the powers which
rule us, and inaugurate the reign of principles, which will secure
freedom, equality and justice to every power, cannot yet be introduced.
We aver that they can; and further, we aver that unless it is done,
revolution such as has never yet been known will inaugurate them for us.
The whole substrata of society is seething and foaming with pent-up
endurance of injustice and wrong, and unless those abuses which have
produced this condition are remedied at once, the existence of the
Government cannot be counted upon. And it is criminal to seek to ignore
this fact. We must not “lie supinely upon our backs while the enemy
binds us hand and foot,” and delivers us to destruction.
In view, then, of our destiny as a nation, and in view of the position
which the order of events seems to have assigned us, we are called upon
to put our Government in perfect order before the constructive part of
the work of the third part of the order of civilization is to be begun.
We must be perfect within ourselves before we can expect to become the
pattern for others, or expect that others will gravitate to us. THE
REVIEW OF THE GENERAL SITUATION, then, results in the finding that the
process of diffusive government has culminated, and that the process of
a continuously constructive and concentrating government has already
been begun, in which our Government, as the most progressive
representative of the principles upon which a perfect government can
alone exist, is assigned the leading position, and that we, recognizing
this assignment, should proceed to assume the responsibilities and the
duties which legitimately flow from it; and they are great in the same
degree that our destiny is great.
It was under the realization of what our destiny should be that the
Pronunciamento of April 2, 1870, in the New York _Herald_, was made; and
now, having offered this general review, my Second Pronunciamento, which
is supplementary to and the completing of the first, is laid before the
people. It is believed that the policy and principles underlying it,
proclaimed therein, will be the final departure necessary to be made, as
the point from which progress will be continued, until the grand
realization of the prophecies of all ages is fulfilled, when all
nations, kindred and tongues shall be united in one harmonious family,
they having risen into the full knowledge of the truth, that whether we
be Christian or Pagan, Greek or Roman, Atheist or Spiritualist, we are
all the children of one common Father, God, whom we shall ever worship
as the Creator, Ruler and Final Destiny of the Universe.